Sliding – Traps to Avoid

Sections:

Ethics, Equipment and Conduct

Introduction to Sliding

Balance – Part 1

Balance – Part 2

Delivery – Three Step Technique

Delivery – Five Step Technique

Grip, Rotation and Release of a Rock

Position of the Rock for a Three or Five Step Delivery

Delivery with a Stick

Sweeping

Sweepers’ Roles and Responsibilities

Rules

Roles and Communication Between Players

Sliding – Traps to Avoid

Turn and Release of the Stone – Traps to Avoid

Different Shots and Signals

Timing

Strategies

Strategies – Continued

Trap 1: Position of the Foot in the Hack

We sometimes note that the foot is always at the same place in the hack. Yet, a foot set higher in the hack will generate more thrust than a foot covering the entire hack. It is therefore recommended to place the toe 2-6 cm from the end of the hack. The foot’s position in the hack varies depending on the type of shot requested.

Trap 2: Position of the Stone Before Sliding

A player often places the stone a little to the side of the body. In doing so during the slide, delivery is often directed outside the target. The arm holding the stone should be in front of the body, comfortably extended, the elbow in front of the sternum.

Trap 3: Position of the Torso

We often note that when in a squat position, the player tends to bend towards the front. This makes it difficult to keep one’s balance while sliding. The position in the hack should be stable and comfortable. When the hips are raised, the back becomes parallel to the ice, which helps to keep one’s balance.

Trap 4: Shifting One’s Gaze

A current problem for beginners is to properly aim for the target, i.e. the skip’s broom. When the player looks at the ice or the stone, his or her start position may be a bit too forward. Often, the player looks at the stone or the ice, making it appear as if he or she has achieved better stability. But this is just an impression… By keeping the head straight and eyes on the skip’s broom, it is easier to remain balanced when sliding. Furthermore, the chances of the stone deviating are diminished.

Trap 5: Pressing Down on the Stone

A player pressing down on the stone must work on his or her balance while sliding and review the delivery steps. Pressing down on the stone slows it down, and to compensate for the lack of speed, the player might push the stone, thus changing its direction.

Trap 6: Extension of Rear Leg

A poor extension of the rear leg may cause negative effects on the slide. To begin with, the thrust might not be powerful enough, and when sliding, too much weight may be put on the rear leg causing an unwanted deceleration. Wrong positioning of the rear leg may also cause the slide to deviate, preventing the player from properly aiming for the target.

Depending on flexibility, players should try to extend the rear leg as much as possible and maintain the extension all through the slide.

Trap 7: Hasten the Forward Motion

It is important to maintain good rhythm all through the steps of delivery. Players sometimes hasten the forward motion especially when attempting a take-out. The stone and the sliding foot move forward at the same time, which may cause imbalance as the foot may not be correctly positioned. It is important to remember the various steps of delivery and always respect the right sequence of motion, regardless of the attempted delivery.

Trap 8: Vision of the Dominant Eye

We sometimes get the impression of always missing the target by a few inches even though we are convinced that the aim and release of the stone were correct. This might be due to an optic effect relating to the positioning of the eyes with regards to the stone.

To avoid this trap, the player should identify his or her dominant eye and make a few positioning adjustments either in the hack or in the slide (eyes against stone). Through trial and error, the player will quickly find the right position to effectively reach the target.